{"id":68844,"date":"2022-12-26T11:41:46","date_gmt":"2022-12-26T15:41:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=68844"},"modified":"2022-12-26T11:48:31","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T15:48:31","slug":"jesus-at-twelve-in-the-temple-marys-perpetual-virginity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/12\/jesus-at-twelve-in-the-temple-marys-perpetual-virginity.html","title":{"rendered":"Jesus at Twelve in the Temple & Mary’s Perpetual Virginity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The Nature & Force of Arguments from Silence, Plausibility, Probability, & Cumulative Effect Explained<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
[words of questioners in blue<\/span>. The first may have been an atheist; the second a Protestant evangelical]<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t see a word about any other children, who certainly would have gone with Joseph and Mary to observe the Passover in Jerusalem.\u201d So the argument from silence is okay when you<\/em> use it?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The argument from silence has limitations, but it\u2019s not all bad. We just have to understand how far it goes, logically (how much<\/em>\u00a0it proves). It\u2019s being used legitimately in this instance. Let me explain how the reasoning works:
\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
1. If Jesus had brothers and\/or sisters and He was the oldest, then He certainly would have had siblings at twelve years old: particularly since Mary was estimated to be sixteen at His birth, which would then make her still only around 28 at this time. We\u2019re to believe that it makes sense that she bore her first child at sixteen and then had no more from 16-28, and then had four or more after that? That\u2019s not very plausible.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*
\n2. But none are in sight, when He journeyed with Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem for the Passover (which the whole family would have been bound to do). Luke states (2:46) that the search for Jesus took three days before He was found in the temple. Mary said, \u201cyour father and I have been looking for you anxiously\u201d (2:48, RSV). If other children had been with them, they certainly would have been looking, too; in which case, Mary would have said, \u201cyour father and I and your brothers and sisters<\/em> have been looking for you anxiously.\u201d But she didn\u2019t say that.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*
\n3. Therefore, this strongly suggests<\/em>\u00a0that He had no siblings: at least not when He was twelve.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*
\n4. Such a suggested<\/em>\u00a0or relatively<\/em> more likely or more plausible<\/em> scenario is consistent<\/em>\u00a0with Mary\u2019s perpetual virginity, but not with the historically late-arriving view (denied by Luther, Calvin, and all the first Protestant leaders) that Mary had other children.
\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
5. When things like this (arguments from plausibility or probability) happen again and again, they achieve a cumulative effect, that make them stronger, taken together, just as a rope becomes stronger, the more strands it has. So for example, here are two more of these sorts of \u201carguments from silence\u201d:
\n*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
A) Nowhere does the NT identify any of Jesus\u2019 \u201cbrothers\u201d (\u201cadelphoi<\/em>\u201c) as Mary\u2019s children, even when they are referenced together (cf. Mk 3:31 ff.; 6:3 ff.; Jn 2:12; Acts 1:14).<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
B) In the NT, they are never called Joseph\u2019s children, either.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*
\n6) If Jesus had brothers and sisters (full siblings), we wouldn\u2019t expect<\/em> that any of these things would be the case, or predict them (is another way of putting it).<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
Leaving one child behind would have been much more likely while traveling with a number of children. Leaving your only child behind [would be] very unlikely.<\/span><\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
Protestant commentaries for Luke 2:44<\/a>:<\/div>\n
*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Ellicott\u2019s Commentary for English Readers<\/em>:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
\n
Supposing him to have been in the company.\u2014The company was probably a large one, consisting of those who had come up to keep the Passover from Nazareth and the neighbouring villages. It is not certain, but in the nature of things it is sufficiently probable, that the boys of such a company congregated together, and travelled apart from the others.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
Barnes\u2019 Notes on the Bible<\/em>:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
*
\nSupposing him to have been in the company \u2013 It may seem very remarkable that parents should not have been more attentive to their only son, and that they should not have been assured of his presence with them when they left Jerusalem; but the difficulty may be explained by the following considerations:
\n*<\/div>\n
1. In going to these great feasts, families and neighbors would join together, and form a large collection.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
2. It is not improbable that Jesus was \u201cwith\u201d them when they were about to start from Jerusalem and were making preparations. Seeing him then, they might have been certain as to his presence.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
3. A part of the company might have left before the others, and Joseph and Mary may have supposed that he was with them, until they overtook them at night and ascertained their mistake.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
Expositor\u2019s Greek Testament<\/em>:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
*
\nA company would be made up of people from the same neighbourhood, well acquainted with one another. . . . It is quite conceivable how they should have gone on so long without missing the boy, . . .<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/em>:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
*<\/div>\n
\n
In the numerous and rejoicing caravans of kinsmen and fellow-countrymen relations are often separated without feeling any anxiety.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Neither questioner counter-replied (what else is new?).<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Practical Matters<\/em><\/strong>: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site) or\u00a0fifty books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0return to the Church<\/a>,\u00a0or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I\u2019m always in need of more funds: especially\u00a0monthly<\/em>\u00a0support. \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages\u201d (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a\u00a0full-time Catholic apologist<\/a>,\u00a0and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.<\/p>\n

PayPal donations<\/a>\u00a0are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. You\u2019ll see the term \u201cCatholic Used Book Service\u201d, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page:\u00a0About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong \/ Donation Information<\/a>.\u00a0Thanks a million<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from the bottom of my heart!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

***<\/p>\n

Photo credit:<\/strong> painting by J.M.H. Hofmann; engraved by Illman Brothers (Germantown, Philadelphia, 1880)<\/span> [public domain \/ picryl<\/a>]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Summary<\/em>: I explain how the argument from silence related to Jesus in the temple at twelve is one of many significant cumulative evidences for Mary\u2019s perpetual virginity.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nature & Force of Arguments from Silence, Plausibility, Probability, & Cumulative Effect Explained [words of questioners in blue. The first may have been an atheist; the second a Protestant evangelical] * \u201cWe don\u2019t see a word about any other children, who certainly would have gone with Joseph and Mary to observe the Passover in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":68850,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[1600,1619,453,2357,508,3456,46,3455,469,16842,503,2356,680,16235,507,1008,3457,685,39,681,944,504,687],"class_list":["post-68844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blessed-virgin-mary","tag-always-virgin","tag-annunciation","tag-bethlehem","tag-blessed-virgin-mary","tag-catholic-mariology","tag-ever-virgin","tag-immaculate-conception","tag-in-partu-virginity","tag-incarnation","tag-jesus-at-twelve-in-the-temple","tag-marian-doctrine","tag-mariology","tag-mary-mother-of-jesus","tag-marys-perpetual-virginity","tag-mother-of-god","tag-nativity","tag-our-lady","tag-perpetual-virginity","tag-perpetual-virginity-of-mary","tag-theotokos","tag-virgin-birth","tag-virgin-mary","tag-virginity-during-childbirth"],"yoast_head":"\nJesus 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Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68844","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68844"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68844\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}